by Piper Rayne
He might as well have been speaking Greek. "Is...um...is...is that like another name for the motor?"
Scott laughed. "No, sweetheart. It's also a lot cheaper to remedy. Tell you what. We'll take this out later today, and go to Pep Boys or Auto Zone and get another one to replace this one."
Jillian's astonishment bubbled to the surface. "You know how to do that?"
"I dabbled a little in car maintenance and repairs. But I didn't like it. It's dirty, greasy work. Now. If you care to ride to Home Depot with me, I'll drop you off where you need to go afterwards."
Jillian rocked on her feet. "I need to be some place now and I couldn't impose on you like that."
Taking her hand, Scott led her to his van. He opened the door. "Don't argue with me, Jillian. Just get in the van. I'll take you where you have to go and even wait for you until you're finished your errands. Now get in!"
Arguing with Scott was useless, especially now when time was wasting, so Jillian complied. "Thank you, Scott. You're very kind. Take me to the Poydras Center on Poydras Street."
"The Poydras Center?"
"Uh-huh. It's in the CBD."
Scott put the van in gear, and after pausing at the end of the driveway, turned into traffic and headed toward Carrollton Avenue. "I know the Poydras Center is in the Central Business District, Jillian," he said without rancor. "I guess I was just wondering why you're going there."
Not wanting to lie, she frowned. "If you must know," she began, trying hard to hide her agitation, "I'm going to apply for a job."
"Yeah, right," Scott snapped. "And I've got a contract to build a spaceship that will fly to Venus."
Folding her arms, Jillian glowered at him. "Lucky you," she said with acid sweetness. "That should make you very happy.” If Scott didn't believe her that was his problem. Seeing the testiness clouding his features, she felt the sudden need to disarm him; she just wasn't up for an argument. She batted her eyelashes and said, "Venus is rumored to have an all-female population."
Scott grinned, all trace of annoyance gone. "So just like that you'd ship me off to Venus?"
Jillian nodded.
"And here I thought I had made an impression on you.” He shook his head.
"Oh, you have," Jillian said, laughing. "You can blame your sarcasm."
"Forgive me, Jillian. I have no right to question what you tell me. Nor do I have right at sarcasm over it. I've just been under a lot of strain. I'm vying for a huge, out-of-state contract for my company, and it's taking its toll."
"I see.” Just as he didn't have a right to question her, she didn't have a right to question him. But that's what she wanted to do. Was he moving his company out of Louisiana or just trying to expand his business? The terrible urge to discover the answers to those questions almost turned her into a hypocrite.
"It's always been my dream to have T & C go national, and the contract in Memphis will take me one step closer. The downside if I’ll have to go to Memphis for however long the job lasts. That would mean uprooting Timmy, but in the long run, it'll be best for both of us."
Jillian couldn't believe he'd provided answers to her unasked questions. Although she barely knew Scott, she didn't like to think he might soon move away.
"Ambitious, aren't you?"
"Is that a bad thing?"
"I suppose not," she said quietly. But she had seen the result of Douglas's ambition.
Indeed, she had been his victim.
5
Since the Human Resources Director and her assistant had left already, it took Jillian all of ten minutes to complete her application, without the interview process she would have gone through had she arrived five minutes earlier. The pregnant receptionist promised someone would get back to her soon, since her due date was near to hand and the position had to be filled by the end of the week.
* * *
The lady was nice and hinted she would put in a good word for Jillian. Jillian left the staid office with a good feeling. By this time next week, she should be amongst the ranks of the working class.
Soon she and Scott were on I-10 heading east for Home Depot. She had never been to the building supply outlet and wasn't quite sure what to expect when they exited at Bullard Road, drove down the service road, and turned into the crowded parking lot. When they finally entered the cavernous building, she gasped. It was warm and drafty, and the scent of fresh wood, creosote, and paint, assailed her nostrils.
"My goodness! I had no idea! There's enough stuff in here to build a-a house."
Amusement softened Scott's face and lit his light brown eyes. "I take it this is your first time coming to a facility like this?” He steered her to the aisle with the drill bits. "Let me get what I need and then we can have a look around. Maybe you can show me the cabinets you want in your kitchen."
"You seem to know your way around this place," Jillian commented, watching as the play of light turned Scott's russet hair brilliant shades of red and chestnut. "And in answer to your question, yes this is the first time I've ever been to a Home Depot. Or a similar facility."
"I don't suppose you had occasion to come here. Unless, of course, you needed to repair something around the house, or even build one. How do you like it?"
"It's...it's different."
"Too Blue Collar for your tastes?"
The comment surprising her, Jillian raised her eyebrows. "That makes me sound like an insufferable snob, Scott. I resent that. Is that the impression you have of me?"
* * *
She hated to think it was, but what did it matter how he perceived her? Yet, it bothered her he had discerned her discomfort and the world in which she had been bred and tried so hard to forget pulsed through anyway.
"Look, Jillian, I don't want to offend you, but it's obvious you don't like it here.” He shrugged and gave her a pointed look. "There's nothing to stew over. Unless you are an insufferable snob, which I don't believe. You might be spoiled and a little insufficient, but you're quite charming at both."
Of all the insufferable boorish comments to make! Jillian placed her hands on her hips, ready for all-out battle, her earlier cheerlessness thrown away. "How dare you!"
Seeing her murderous stance, Scott retreated. "I'm sorry. But you asked me."
He moved away, leaving her to follow behind him. Leaving her to take in his well-shaped body, magnificent in black jeans and black tee shirt, as he moved with the grace of a panther.
Quickly finding what he needed, they found their way to the Kitchen and Bathroom department, which was situated in the center of the store. Gleaming wooden cabinets and model kitchens greeted them.
Her heart thumped as Scott pointed out his recommendations. His gentle guidance relaxed her annoyance with him, and she was grateful for his expertise and advice. She saw exactly what she wanted as well as the exorbitant prices of the glass paneled cabinet doors coupled with everything else that went with a remodeled kitchen. Without the job, she could scarce afford her beautiful new kitchen. Thank goodness she'd had the foresight to go and apply for the clerical position.
"You have excellent taste, Jillian.” Scott unlatched the measuring tape hooked to his belt and zinged the yellow strip across a floor to ceiling pantry. "Buckingham would be my choice as well."
* * *
As pleased at his glowing approval as she was hurt at his scathing assessment, Jillian smiled.
"Do you want to look at floor tiles?"
When they went to the aisle with the floor tiles, Jillian's happiness vanished. Scott's assurances his estimate would be under the original twelve thousand dollars couldn't be accurate. Looking at the prices of material, Jillian worried the final price would exceed that.
"No," she said, not quite hiding her misery. She had to get that job.
Scott looked at her, his gaze hawk-like and assessing. She doubted he missed anything, but prayed he would not press her. For once luck was with her. Seeing her closed expression, he obliged and changed the subject.
"This took
less time than I anticipated," he observed as they headed for the check-out counter. "Including the swing to the Poydras Center.” He smiled as he handed the attendant the money needed to pay for the bit. "For whatever reason."
His infectious grin disarming, Jillian answered with a smile of her own. "Yeah, for whatever reason."
They reached the van with the bold letters advertising Scott's company. On the road again, he asked, "Where to now?"
"How about home?"
A sensuous flame colored his expression as he gave her a brief glance. "Yours or mine?"
She wasn't quite sure he was joking with her, and the husky sound of his voice gave way to all sorts of unladylike images. Yet she couldn't fall into his bed, no matter how attracted to him she found herself. Despite his avowal otherwise, the wedding ring probably sat in his pocket and attested to his state of availability. The liar.
Jillian glared at him, angry at the unreliability of men.
Scott’s grin turned. "Just a thought."
* * *
"Do clean up your thoughts then."
"Jillian Riley! Surely you don't think there was an ulterior motive to my innocent question?"
His feigned indignation forced a chuckle from her. "You're such a phony. You have a hanky-panky gleam in your eye."
"How well you read me, Miss Riley. If you ever get a hankering for pankering you'll let me know?"
"You're incorrigible!"
"I've been told that on many occasions. Never fear, you're safe with me. I haven't the time for neither hanky-panky nor romance. So since there's no chance of that, would you care to join me in a hamburger?"
No, she wouldn't. Especially since she felt such keen disappointment at his words and wondered if her lack of trust was spilling over to Scott. Might he have been telling the truth he wasn't married? But she couldn't express that to him, so she opted for another tact. A partial truth. "Scott, you eat too much junk food! And you're teaching Timmy the same bad habits. The answer is no. I insist you eat at the inn when we get back."
"Geez, Jillian, you sound just like Kayla. She constantly reminds me I encourage Timmy to eat junk food."
Kayla. So that’s her name. Jillian smiled, in spite of the feeling the air had just been taken from her lungs. “You should heed her advice.”
“Well, I’m not about to argue with either one of you.” sagely
"You're very wise." Jillian wondered where Kayla would be as they dined at her house. “Um…Kayla is welcome to join you and Timmy.”
Scott frowned. “Kayla?” He laughed as if the mere suggestion was hilarious. “That’s very generous of you, Jillian, but, at my request, she’s off to Memphis on business for T & C. She’s really invaluable to me. I don’t know what I would do without her. But I’ll pass on your invitation to her when she gets back.”
“You do that.”
Just for a little while, Jillian’s insurmountable burdens seemed solvable. Scott had chased away her blues just by being Scott. In the span of a couple of hours, he had made her laugh and raised her hackles, but he had reached out to her in mere friendship, something Douglas never really offered. The sad irony was Scott’s unavailability.
* * *
She had to keep her head on her shoulders and a firm check on her emotions. The man was spoken for. With just a little coaxing, she would have thrown caution to the wind, gone to Scott's place and let him do with her what he desired. But being involved, his desires wouldn’t match hers. Still, she wouldn't have left his bed for a week.
In spite of the complex nature of the situation, she giggled at the thought, but Scott's questioning look sobered her, and she straightened the crease on her skirt primly.
God! Get a grip, girl! The man isn't interested in you!
"Here we are, Jillian."
It surprised her when she realized they'd already arrived at the Breakfast Nook, thereby bringing their quasi-date to an end.
Scott jumped out of the van with athletic agility and walked around to open her door. He handed her down and she smiled in pleasure.
"You're such a gentleman, Scott," she admitted.
"Whew!” He brushed a hand across his forehead. "Scoring points at last."
"Don't you ever stop?"
"No, not if I can help it.”
"Well, follow me inside. You get to eat for your chivalry."
As if it was the most natural thing to do, Scott took her hand and, fingers entwined together, they went into the house. Her heart doing a dance in her chest, Jillian wondered if Scott was even aware of the turmoil his innocent gesture caused.
Later, as he drove home, Scott wondered if his sanity had deserted him. Hadn’t he told himself he didn’t want an involvement with Jillian? Hadn’t Kayla assured him how professional he always was with his clients? Yet, for the entire day today, he’d flirted outrageously with Jillian.
She filled him with a never before feeling of lighthearted joy. Fighting the direction his emotions were leading him was akin to steering a boat in the storm of a raging sea. The waves were poised to inundate him and there was nothing he could do about them. No matter how much he fought it, he’d already lost the battle.
The pull toward Jillian Riley was just too strong.
6
After only a week, Jillian noticed an astonishing change in the kitchen. Several pinewood boards had been replaced on the top half of the walls, and they gleamed with newness. Even a sheen glistened from the older boards.
Scott worked until four o'clock each day, and Jillian realized his job would be completed sooner than she anticipated. She wasn't quite sure she was looking forward to the day he completed his work. In the entire week, he'd been a perfect gentleman, and little more than a worker doing his job.
* * *
But he'd replaced the alternator in her car and had shared a ride with her to test the Honda out, taking her once again to Home Depot. Their time together caused longing within her, but she ruthlessly tempered
her growing attraction.
Yet the rushed flight to the Poydras Center served as the true starting point to her and Scott's blossoming friendship. With no word from anyone at the company in the intervening days, it was apparent she hadn't gotten the job.
"Where's Lucy today, Jill?" Scott asked as he walked through the kitchen door. He rubbed a paper towel over his hands, then threw it in the trash container under the sink. "She usually comes right at four o'clock."
Jillian dragged her gaze away from Scott in his knee-length denim shorts and bare chest to peer at the clock on the wall. She barely saw the time, her mind dancing with images of Scott's raw masculinity, his hard muscles rippling in sinewy perfection. "She's ten minutes late," she muttered, then pasted a bright smile on her face. "Lucy'll be here. Something real important must have held her up."
A sense of foreboding engulfed her. Suppose Lucy didn't show up? What would she do about the part time employment she needed? For that matter, what would Jillian ever do tonight for the guests' meals? Lucy always cooked the evening meals, then helped give her a head start on the next morning's breakfast.
Wanting to kick herself for being so determined to hold onto the Breakfast Nook when she had no earthly idea how to cook, Jillian rubbed a hand across her brow.
Warm, work-roughened fingers caressed her bare arm. Jillian stiffened. Scott was too close for her peace of mind. Light brown eyes shone with tenderness and Jillian swallowed hard, afraid she would do something foolish and answer his touch with one of her own.
* * *
"Will you be able to handle all she does and what you do as well if Lucy doesn't show?" he asked.
The concern in his voice rippled over her battered emotions, and settled near her heart. She sucked in a breath and glared at him, offended by her feelings.
"I won't know until I try it, will I?"
Narrowing his eyes, Scott released an exasperated snort, then went to the utility closet and got his shirt. He pulled it over his head and looked at her. "Why don't I st
ay a while longer to give you a hand in case Lucy can't make it today?"
Jillian raised her chin, determined to free herself of this dead-end attraction. "I couldn't ask you to do that, Scott. You've done so much already. Keeping you away from your family at night isn't in your job description. Besides, I couldn't pay you overtime."
"Who said anything about overtime pay, Jillian?" Scott asked, his tone annoyed. "I only want to help you out of a jam. Timmy will certainly understand."
Will Kayla? But Jillian couldn't bring herself to ask. She ran a hand over her ponytail. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you, Scott," she said softly. "But it would be selfish of me to keep you away from Timmy, after not being with him all day. Thank you for your offer. I'm sure I'll be able to manage."
Scott gave her a terse nod, his features filled with disappointment and anger. "Very well, Miss Riley,” he said before she commented on the warring emotions so clear on his face. “I'll just put these things in the storeroom until Monday.” He started for the door. "I'll see you then. So long.”
Pausing in the doorway, he turned to face her. His eyes softened and his lips curled into a half-smile. Her knees felt weak, her throat parched. She ran her tongue over her dry lips, and shifted her weight.
* * *
He stared at her and seemed transfixed by the movement of her tongue. "You have my number, Jilly," he murmured.
She read his desire and stepped backward, away from it, away from him. He was going home to his family.
"If you need help don't hesitate to call me."
"Thanks. I will. See you Monday."
Jillian intended to see Scott drive off, but the ringing phone put a dent in those plans. Rushing to her office, she picked up the receiver. “Hello, the Breakfast Nook. This is Jillian.”
